Homestead Acres

Archive for the ‘Crafts’ Category

Our next video in the Learn To Knit series, The purl stitch!

Purling is the exact opposite of the knit stitch.  I hope this video helps you, if you have any questions please feel free to ask.

I found this on a forum and it gave me a giggle.  This fella Mo Rocca made the mistake of announcing that hand knit sweaters were itchy.  Sounds like the knitters at Raverly put up quite a fuss.

If you haven’t checked out Raverly yet it’s a wonderful knitting/crochet community.

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Learn how to knit using the continental method.  Need to learn how to cast on?  Check out our video the long tail cast on.

Knitting is a wonderful relaxing hobby.  We have had such a wonderful response to our other homesteading videos, I’ve decided to start a knitting series.

Our first video is the long tail cast on method.  It is my favorite cast on.  Very easy to do and knit from, makes a nice looking and stretchy cast on edge.

Well it’s been a little while since I’ve had time to knit.  Oh was I ever missing it!  Knitting is really a good therapy, a quiet time to sit and relax.

I finished another balaclava, this one is for my uncle.  It’s an umm quite late Christmas present.  LOL!  I have two  more to make now.  I’m going to cast on 1 today.  But knitting with all this black is driving me nuts.  It’s plain and boring and hard to see to!  So I’m going to start another project as well.  Maybe I’ll start on the fingerless gloves for next Christmas…Or maybe I’ll start on some longies, although I have some nice blue yarn calling me to make a shawl to…Oh the choices….

I’ve been busy crafting in between sick days.  I finished another fleece blanket and got a late Christmas New Years package sent off.  It included the other two fleece blankets, balaclava and a crochet shawl.   In my rush I forgot to take photos of the shawl and the one I made for my aunt.   Both were crochet from my own pattern, one in light blue and the other a two toned gray.  The yarn was Bernat Soft Boucle

I’m about half done the balaclava for my Uncle now.  Just an inch away from making the face opening.  I love the pattern, but the 2 x 2 ribbing goes slow!  I have two more to make from this pattern, then I may try making some changes.  I would like to see how it looks in stockinette.  That would be a much faster knit!

I love making no sew fleece blankets for gifts.  They are so quick and easy to make, yet beautiful and useful as well.   This year I’m making smaller lap blanket size ones, 1 meter long.   Hope you enjoy the video.  To read step by step instructions see here.

I finished another knitting project and it’s a hit!  This is for my BIL for Christmas, but dh was kind to model it for  photos.  He loves it and wants one as well.  I’m hoping to start on that today.

The pattern is Easy Balaclava and you can find it here on Ravelry or on Knitting in Color’s blog.

The only change I made to the pattern was to use a bulky weight yarn.  This gave me a men’s large size and it fits great.  Yarn used Cascades Eco +.

This is the yarn that followed me home on Saturday.  LOL  The black cascade is the one that was matted and tangled in the center.

The greenish/blue wool beside it I love!  Each ball is 50 grams.  So that would be about 6 oz all together.  Its DK weight.  Not enough for a shawl…Any ideas?

Welcome to the second edition of Gifts From The Heart.  I can’t wait to see what you’ve been crafting this week!  Please add your links to the bottom of the post.

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I’ve had an idea in my mind for a snowman ornament.  Today I sat down and wrote it out.  These would be so cute covering a Christmas tree.  They would also make great gift decorations, or glue magnets on the back for some super cute ornaments!

Chain 4, join with a slip stitch.

1st Row work 10 dc in the center of ring.  Join to the first one with a sl.  Chain 3 turn.

2nd Row *Work 2 dc in first stitch, work 1 dc in next stitch. *  Repeat ** all the way around, join with sl.

Repeat row 2 until desired size is reached.  In my example I stopped after row 2.

Weave ends in.

Hat

Row 1 Chain 16, slip stitch back through all chains.  At the end slip stich backwards 4 stitches. Chain 2

Row 2 *Sc in 8 stitches.  Chain 2 turn.*

Repeat ** until hat is desired height.  Cut yarn, weave in ends and sew to snowman face.

I used google eyes and sequins for the mouth and nose.  However I think mini pompoms would be very cute to!